| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Tom Grogan by F. Hopkinson Smith: in the fence, "Somp'n wid a mustache, somp'n wid a mustache," like
a news-boy calling an extra. Then a stone grazed Lathers's ear.
Lathers sprang through the gate, but the boy was half way through
the yard. It was this flea-like alertness that always saved Mr.
Finnegan's scalp.
Once out of Lathers's reach, Cully bounded up the road like a
careering letter X, with arms and legs in air. If there was any
one thing that delighted the boy's soul, it was, to quote from his
own picturesque vocabulary, "to set up a job on de ole woman."
Here was his chance. Before he reached the stable he had planned
the whole scene, even to the exact intonation of Lathers's voice
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: before. The fog lifted quickly that morning, and soon the sun was shining.
We got under way at once, and took to the trail at a jog-trot. I knew my
horse better and he was more used to me, which made it at least bearable to
both of us. Before long the canyon widened out into the level forest land
thickly studded with magnificent pines. I had again the feeling of awe and
littleness. Everything was solemn and still. The morning air was cool, and
dry as toast; the smell of pitch-pine choked my nostrils. We rode briskly
down the broad brown aisles, across the sunny glades, under the murmuring
pines.
The old hunter was leading our train, and evidently knew perfectly what he
was about. Unexpectedly he halted, bringing us up short. The pack-ponies
The Young Forester |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: managed to unearth a supply of quarter-bags.
"It's fourteen hundred your ship wanted, did you say, Captain?"
"Yes, yes!" I replied eagerly; but he remained calm. He looked
more tired than I had ever seen him before.
"Well, Captain, you may go and tell your people that they can get
that lot from my brother."
As I remained open-mouthed at this, he added his usual placid
formula of assurance:
"You'll find it correct, Captain."
"You spoke to your brother about it?" I was distinctly awed. "And
for me? Because he must have known that my ship's the only one
'Twixt Land & Sea |
